Portrait in action: Kuany Kuany is South Sudan's shooting star

DAKAR (Senegal) - The nickname for South Sudan's national team is the Bright Stars, which is fitting.

On the African continent, there is not a more exciting and talented group of players bursting onto the scene. They positively sparkle!

Founded as a nation in 2011, South Sudan made their FIBA AfroBasket debut last year and now, they're off to a 3-0 start in the African Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

One of their shooting stars, Kuany Kuany, is a big reason why. The 1.96m (6ft 5in) small forward did a little bit of everything to help his country defeat Rwanda on opening day, then two-time defending AfroBasket champions Tunisia and lastly, Cameroon.

Kuany Kuany, 27, who plays for KK Vrijednosnice Osijek in Croatia, was a big part of the South Sudan success in the African Qualifiers.

"Portrait in Action" is a feature where some of the most outstanding talents around the world are highlighted, putting on display what they can do on the court that makes them must-watch candidates. Make sure to consistently check the FIBA.basketball website for "Portraits in Action" of your favorite players.

The Drives

Putting the ball on the floor and attacking is what Kuany Kuany does better than most and he demonstrated that in February. Even when defenders closed off his path to the basket, he managed to get his shots off and score. On more than one occasion he drove and absorbed contact before fading slightly and putting the ball off the glass and into the hoop, even from a few meters away. His drives helped him average 10.3 points per game.

The Shooter

 
Opponents know they must get a hand in the face of Kuany Kuany or he'll bury a jump shot from behind the arc. And when the defense does run at him, he's more than comfortable dribbling into space to drill a shot. Kuany Kuany will also spot-up and shoot, whether it's in the half court or on the break. When defenders left him to double-team someone else, it was a big mistake. Kuany Kuany hit a high percentage - 46.2% during the qualifiers - from deep in the window.

The Passer

Kuany Kuany is a tough assignment for any defense because not only can he shoot and not only can he drive - he can pass. Countless times last month, the veteran showed off his skill of delivering perfect bounce passes in the half-court offense or in transition. He was also unselfish, passing up open shots to get even better looks for teammates. If Kuany Kuany was only credited with 3 helpers in the window, he also made passes to others who went on to collect assists.

The thefts

It can't just be about the offense if a team wants to run. The players - all of them - have to be active on defense, be it with blocks, steals or deflections. In South Sudan's three wins, Kuany Kuany was ready to hit the opponent on the counter in the blink of an eye once turnovers occurred.  He had a steal against Rwanda and three more in the next game against Tunisia. He kept his hands up to get deflections and was often the player triggering fast breaks after the Bright Stars took the ball away.

FIBA